462 On That Day... A New Threat came for the Stone Fortress to Face (1/2)

Day ▊▊ - ▊▊:▊▊ ▊▊ - Guest Rooms, Stone Fortress, Eastern Mountain

Their third morning in the Spirit Dimension had come. And for the first time in a while, Mei had woken up first while Mark was still heavily asleep. She opened her eyes, feeling his warm embrace, and noticed that she was holding him even tighter. That was when Mei remembered having a nightmare that suddenly vanished last night. Although she could not recall the details anymore, she was sure that Mark was the reason why she was able to sleep more peacefully.

Mei was still in his embrace, making her not want to leave the bed. It looked like Mark was quite tired but looked after her for the rest of the night, nevertheless. It made her pretty guilty. She snuggled closer to his chest until she could hear his heartbeat, thinking of ways to return the favor.

She then looked at his sleeping face, looking at how his appearance was improving ever since they met. It was not like he was transforming or changing his appearance. The situation was more like the impurities in his body was being flushed out as he got stronger.

When they met for the first time, Mark's skin and hair were totally unkempt and uncared for. His hair was ragged, looking dirty and sticky. His skin was rough too. Now, even though he was still uncaring about his appearance, his hair looked healthy, and his skin was smoother. Mei was happy for him.

Mei could not help but poke his cheeks a little while smiling.

While Mei was doing that, Mark woke up. He opened his eyes rather abruptly that he caught her. She immediately turned red, lowered her gaze, and burrowed her face unto his chest.

”Mei'er, good morning.”

Mark said with a smile.

”Good morning, Gege...”

Mei replied in a muffled voice.

That was when Mark said something that made Mei freeze.

”You three too. Good morning.”

Mei slowly turned her body to see the opposite side of the room like a broken toy. There, she saw Iola, Abbygale, and Miracle sitting on their bed facing theirs. Abbygale was still half sleep rubbing her eyes. Miracle looked curious while tilting her head. On the other hand, Iola was looking at Mei with a meaningful smile.

””Good morning, Papa, Mama.””

Iola said first, which Miracle copied.

”Papa... Mama... Morning... Yawn...”

Abbygale also greeted, although in a sleepy voice.

Mei could not hide her embarrassment. The moment she woke up, she was focused on Mark. She did not know when the three girls woke up. They might have seen everything.

”Iola, since when you woke up?”

Mei asked.

And, Iola only replied with a smile. Without a doubt, she saw everything.

”You three, come here.”

Mei felt even more embarrassed because of Iola and Miracle, but surely, she was happy. This was the kind of family she wanted, after all.

***

Unfortunately, their peaceful morning was short-lived.

BAM!

The double door leading to their room slammed open. Outside, Karlene was there.

”Ah...”

Karlene voiced in a daze as she saw what was happening inside the room.

Alana was also there with her palm on her forehead, behind her best friend.

”I already told you to slow down...”

By the looks of it, Karlene did not deliberately push the doors without thinking. She was probably running and ended up not being able to stop on time and pushed the doors by accident.

Seeing Mark, Mei, and the little girls in the room, she realized that she must have ruined their family time.

Mark did not mind. Actually, the reason he woke up was not because of Mei and the little girls. He was detecting some panic in the fortress.

”Is something wrong?”

He asked the two.

Seeing that he was not angry, Karlene sighed in relief. Alana then spoke.

”Well, Morana just came saying that a gigantic infected is seen in the north by the sentries. Everyone is panicking. The soldiers are getting ready to fight.”

”So, that's why.”

Mark said.

Because of that, they ate the breakfast that Morana already sent to everyone and went out. Mark had no intention to fight, he was just interested in what kind of gigantic infected appeared.

***

Mark and the others went out. There was no need to actually go out of the Stone Fortress to see what was happening. It was already enough to stand atop the tall walls of the fortress.

And they were amazed. The incoming enemy sure was gigantic.

Even the walls of the Stone Fortress looked nothing but a toy.

An about fifty-meter humanoid giant could be seen passing through the mountains to the north.